[After a beat, his shoulders slump forward.] Not what I said exactly. But I trust I'll make it clear to you. [Even if he has to kick him against a wall to get his point across. Jason knows he shouldn't be so hard on the kid, but he does it anyway. Besides, Hiro seems to be a glutton for punishment.
But maybe he'll curb his weird masochism after all of this.]
I'm not going to spin you some tale about Ragnarok. I don't have anything like that. I grew up the kid of two people who weren't doing so hot. One was a hardened criminal, and he got killed because he screwed up in the business. The other was into drugs. The drugs took their wear on her body and she died. As it turns out, she hadn't been my biological mother, but she was mom. [He shrugs, trying to act calm about it. Come to think of it, he's never explained this to Bruce. Somehow, the man just knew. Jason figures he looked into it.]
After my dad left and mom had her drug problems, I fended for both of us. And I kept at it even after she died. I was homeless. I lived in the worst part of the city. And I survived in a way that no kid could. Ending up ... with some hero, someone who'd train me. In a way, it was dumb luck, but that's my life. I knew how to outsmart people. I knew the best things to sell. I was sharp, even with just a fifth grade education.
And when I look at you? [He motions to him with a ... really condescending motion. His arm just waves forward like he's waving him away.]
You're an idiot who'd die in one day in Crime Alley. You'd be a laughing stock. A cautionary tale. But because you're some kid genius, you think you got it all figured out. Sounds like this Tadashi guy's the one who actually did.
no subject
But maybe he'll curb his weird masochism after all of this.]
I'm not going to spin you some tale about Ragnarok. I don't have anything like that. I grew up the kid of two people who weren't doing so hot. One was a hardened criminal, and he got killed because he screwed up in the business. The other was into drugs. The drugs took their wear on her body and she died. As it turns out, she hadn't been my biological mother, but she was mom. [He shrugs, trying to act calm about it. Come to think of it, he's never explained this to Bruce. Somehow, the man just knew. Jason figures he looked into it.]
After my dad left and mom had her drug problems, I fended for both of us. And I kept at it even after she died. I was homeless. I lived in the worst part of the city. And I survived in a way that no kid could. Ending up ... with some hero, someone who'd train me. In a way, it was dumb luck, but that's my life. I knew how to outsmart people. I knew the best things to sell. I was sharp, even with just a fifth grade education.
And when I look at you? [He motions to him with a ... really condescending motion. His arm just waves forward like he's waving him away.]
You're an idiot who'd die in one day in Crime Alley. You'd be a laughing stock. A cautionary tale. But because you're some kid genius, you think you got it all figured out. Sounds like this Tadashi guy's the one who actually did.